Re: Atwell's _The Reading Zone_

[Mary Dovey <mgdovey@comcast.net>]

Hi all-
I got The Reading Zone the day it was published, I think, and wrote a review
on Amazon that I still believe every word of, these many months later. What
I think is important for reading teachers to remember is to teach the
comprehension strategies as study skill reading strategies, as Atwell
suggests. Kids need to practice these techniques to tackle difficult content
area text as well as difficult literature that they might be assigned both
in middle school, high school and beyond.

One thing I wrote in my review was how firmly I believe she is right where
high school is concerned--that every year my kids came back to me
complaining that they no longer read or, as last year's valedictorian told
me recently, she now HATES reading and has read only the assigned, deadly,
lit from school. This is a brilliant girl who read more than 35 books
independently in my class in 7th grade, and about 45 in 8th grade. I cannot
understand why someone who teaches high school has not realized what a
disservice these "canons" of literature are doing to our kids and called for
the same re-ordering of teaching as has happened at the middle school level.

Mary


On 7/7/07 9:00 AM, "SommerWind410@aol.com" <SommerWind410@aol.com> wrote:

>  
> Debbie,
> IMO, it was a worthwhile read.  I still have questions about  practicality to
> work through, but I found it to be a thought-provoking  read with good
> examples of the letter-essays and booktalks.  I  know my colleagues have
> students 
> use Post-its with comprehension strategies as  on ongoing IR practice, and I
> was 
> headed in that direction prior to reading  this, but now I probably will not.
>  
>  
> In a message dated 7/7/2007 8:14:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> debracparker@sbcglobal.net writes:
> 
> Cathy  and other readers -- It sounds like Atwell's _The Reading  Zone_ is a
> good addition and clarifier to _In the Middle_.   Correct?
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
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